SECOND ANNUAL FINTECH CONFERENCE

REGULATION AT THE EUROPEAN LEVEL AND BEYOND

Senior policy makers and industry will come together to discuss key aspects of FinTech regulation at the 2nd Annual Conference on ‘FinTech and Digital Innovation: Regulation at the European Level and Beyond’ on 27th February 2018.

FinTech is one of the fastest growing industries and the conference is timed to take place just a few weeks before the European Commission presents its Action Plan on FinTech. We have speakers from the EU as well as Japan, Singapore and Switzerland, who will explore key aspects of the policy debate, such as supervisory convergence and best practices, the role of artificial intelligence in financial services, the place for standard setting in FinTech, and how new technologies such as RegTech can contribute to the effective compliance and enforcement of financial services regulation.
As the go-to event on FinTech in Brussels, it is a unique opportunity to take the pulse of regulation and industry at the European level and beyond.

FinTech areas to be discussed

Supervisory convergence
Technology neutrality
Artificial intelligence and robo-advice
International regulatory and supervisory cooperation
Emergence of Initial Coin Offerings
Standard setting
RegTech and data use
Distributed Ledger Technology

Keynote Speakers

Valdis Dombrovskis
Vice-President for the Euro and Social Dialogue also in charge of Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, European Commission
Yves Mersch
Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank (ECB)
Steven Maijoor
Chair, European Supervisory and Markets Authority
Andrea Enria
Chair,
European Banking Authority
Johan van Overtveldt
Belgian Finance Minister
Merel van Vroonhoven
Chair, Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets
Jean Paul Servais
Chair of the Belgium Financial Services and Markets Authority and the Chairman of the Financial Innovation Standing Committee of ESMA
Hon. Silvio Schembri
Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation, Government of Malta
Olli Rehn
Member of the Board of the Bank of Finland and Chair of the FIN-FSA, and former Vice-President and Member of the European Commission
Lisa Hunt
Chair, SIFMA and Executive Vice President, Business Initiatives, Charles Schwab Corporation

Indicative Timing

The conference is timed to feed into the Commission’s Action Plan timeline.

7th March 2018
An initiative on Financial Technology (FinTech).
7th March 2018
A proposal for an EU framework on crowd
and peer to peer finance.
28th April 2018
An initiative on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.

PROGRAMME

Our programme is specifically designed to reflect the key issues that will be presented in the European Commission’s FinTech Action Plan in March 2018. We have taken the priorities of the Commission into account while also introducing emerging topics such as Initial Coin Offerings. As you can see below, our programme brings together the key people from both the policy-making and industry spheres to take part in what is sure to be a lively discussion.

Nickolas Reinhardt, Director, Afore Consulting

  • Valdis Dombrovskis, Vice-President for the Euro and Social Dialogue also in charge of Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, European Commission
  • Yves Mersch, Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank (ECB)
  • Merel van Vroonhoven, Chair, Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets
  • Paul Stoddart, CEO, Vocalink, a Mastercard company

EU supervisors are exploring how to deal with FinTech in their respective jurisdictions. This raises questions about supervisory convergence and best practice. Within the context of a Single Market this creates opportunities to test different supervisory approaches but it also could lead to distortive effects. Sand boxes have opened the way in some Member States to take a targeted and proportionate approach to regulation. How could supervisory cooperation be best achieved? What role is there for the ESAs to foster cooperation or should this better be left to international organisations, such as the Basel Committee or IOSCO? Is effective supervisory cooperation a substitute to new regulation? Is the current regulatory framework in financial services technology neutral and future proof?

Moderator: Sean Marion, Managing Director, Financial Institutions Group, Moody’s Investors Service

Speakers:

  • Peter Kerstens, Adviser, DG FISMA, European Commission and Co-Chair of the FinTech Task Force, European Commission
  • Gerry Cross, Director of Policy and Risk, Central Bank of Ireland
  • René Plank, Deputy Head of Unit Antitrust: Payment Systems, DG COMP, European Commission
  • Cătălin Sorin Ivan, Member of the European Parliament
  • Cristina Sofia Dias, ‎Secretary General and Advisor to the Board, CMVM
  • Anke Klein, Project Manager Innovation and FinTech, De Nederlandsche Bank

The potential of applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence is enormous. From robo-advice to the surveillance of financial markets to fraud prevention tools, these technologies help reduce costs and bring value to the customer, user and regulators of  these services.

  • How do existing regulations need to be adapted to reflect these trends and changing interaction with customers and other stakeholders?
  • How can AI and ML be used more generally as an effective analytical tool?
  • Will supervisors have the means to oversee decisions take based on AI?
  • How is the industry thinking about the application and the exchange of views and best-practice with regulators going forward? 

Moderator: Michael Townsend, Vice President, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, Charles Schwab Corporation

Speakers:

  • Joachim Wuermeling, Board Member, Deutsche Bundesbank
  • Mady Delvaux, Member of the European Parliament
  • Katja Würtz, Head of Consumer Protection, European Insurance and Occupational Pension Authority
  • Bob Ferguson, Head of Department, Strategy & Competition Division, Financial Conduct Authority
  • Abdalla Kablan, Advisor on DLT, AI and IOT, Parliamentary Secretariat for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation, Malta
  • Jon Zieger, General Counsel, Stripe
  • Tony Sio, Head of Exchange & Regulator Surveillance, Market Technology, Nasdaq

  • Olli Rehn, Member of the Board of the Bank of Finland and Chair of the FIN-FSA, and former Vice-President and Member of the European Commission
  • Jean Paul Servais, Chair of the Belgium Financial Services and Markets Authority and the Chairman of the Financial Innovation Standing Committee of ESMA
  • Hon. Silvio Schembri, Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation, Government of Malta


FinTech applications are developing at an ever faster pace. Any of these applications potentially challenge the tradition approach to regulation based on national jurisdictions and enforcement. FinTech is increasing the need for international regulatory and supervisory cooperation. The panel will discuss how supervisors in different parts of the world are addressing these challenges.

  • How are supervisors in different  parts of the world addressing these challenges?
  • How do they seek to find a balance between safety and stability of financial services on the one hand, and the need for innovation and realising the full potential of FinTech on the other?

Moderator:

Speakers

  • Rupert Schaefer, Head of Strategic Services, Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority
  • Director for Systematically Important Financial Institutions, Banks Division I, Supervisory Bureau
  • Yao Loong Ng, Head of Markets Policy and Infrastructure, Monetary Authority of Singapore
  • Clara Chiu, Director, Licensing, Intermediaries Division, Securities and Futures Commission, Hong Kong
  • Fabian Vandenreydt, Executive Director, B-Hive
  • Paul Atkins, Chief Executive, Patomak Global Partners LLC and former SEC Commissioner – Co-Chair, Token Alliance

Common standards help to reduce costs and potentially allow new entrants to easily enter the Single Market. They can also address new challenges presented by developing technologies, such as the risks associated with ICOs recently identified by both the EU and international regulators. These should also take into consideration calls from the industry for regulators to coordinate their message on ICOs. However, there are also downsides to common standards. Standards can inadvertently give preference to some technologies over others hindering their innovation.

  • Where should  standards be set for the FinTech sector?
  • How does the EU ensure the standard setting process fosters competition, is transparent and open for all participants?
  • The conditions for access have to be fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory. Should we aim for EU or international standards?

Moderator: 

  • Werner Bijkerk, Partner, Simplexxis and former Head of Research Department, IOSCO

Speakers:

  • Aija Zitcere, Deputy Director, Financial Markets Policy Department, Ministry of Finance, Latvia
  • Peteris Zilgalvis, Head of Unit, Start-ups and innovation, Digital Single Market, DG CONNECT, European Commission and Co-Chair of the FinTech Task Force of the European Commission
  • Patrick Armstrong, Senior Risk Analysis Officer, Innovation and Products Team, ESMA
  • Ashley Fox, Member of the European Parliament
  • Simon Maisey, Managing Director, Global Head of Business Development, Tradeweb
  • Jonathan Haynes, Senior Consultant, Oxera

New technologies can contribute to the effective compliance and enforcement of financial services regulation. RegTech has the potential of costs and increasing effectiveness. Many of its benefits arise from the possibility of financial services companies using specialised third parties and in pooling data and resources.

  • Are regulators and supervisors equipped for these new models of outsourcing and data sharing?  
  • How do supervisors respond to sensitive issues, such as data processing, data standardisation, ownership and security standards?
  • Is there a trade-off between open standards and confidentiality?
  • What opportunities can data sharing bring for KYC?
  • What role is there for Distributed Ledger Technology and how should regulators oversee these technologies?

Moderator: 

  • Kirston Winters, Managing Director, Co-head of Product Management for MarkitSERV, IHS Markit

Speakers:

  • Pierre Bienvenu, FinTech Expert and Head of International Relations, l’Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution
  • Carmine di Noia, Commissioner, CONSOB
  • Che Sidanius, Global Head of Financial Crime & Industry Affairs, Thomson Reuters
  • Hartwig Gerhartinger, Vice President, Legal and Regulatory, Deputy General Counsel, Paysafe Group
  • Chloe MacEwen, Vice Chair of the Board, European Payments institutions Federation and Vice President Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Western Union
  • Luukas Ilves, Deputy Director and Senior Fellow, The Lisbon Council

Closing Remarks 

  • Lisa Hunt, Chair, SIFMA and Executive Vice President, Business Initiatives, Charles Schwab Corporation
  • Johan Van Overtveldt, Belgian Finance Minister

Closing 


SPEAKERS

plus

Valdis Dombrovskis

Vice-President for the Euro and Social Dialogue also in charge of Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, European Commission

plus

Merel van Vroonhoven

Chair, Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets

plus

Yves Mersch

Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank (ECB)

plus

Johan Van Overtveldt

Belgian Finance Minister

plus

Paul Stoddart

CEO, Vocalink, a Mastercard company

plus

Lisa Hunt

Chair, SIFMA and Executive Vice President, Business Initiatives, Charles Schwab Corporation

plus

Sean Marion

Managing Director, Financial Institutions Group, Moody's Investors Service

plus

Peter Kerstens

Adviser, DG FISMA, European Commission and Co-Chair of the FinTech Task Force, European Commission

plus

Kirston Winters

Managing Director, Co-head of Product Management for MarkitSERV, IHS Markit

plus

Gerry Cross

Director of Policy and Risk, Central Bank of Ireland

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Catalin Sorin Ivan

Member of the European Parliament

plus

René Plank

Deputy Head of Unit, DG COMP , European Commission

plus

Cristina Sofia Dias

Secretary General and Advisor to the Board, CMVM

plus

Anke Klein

Project Manager Innovation and Fintech, De Nederlandsche Bank

plus

Joachim Wuermeling

Board Member, Deutsche Bundesbank

plus

Mady Delvaux

Member of the European Parliament

plus

Katja Wuertz

Head of Consumer Protection, European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority

plus

Bob Ferguson

Head of Department, Strategy & Competition Division, Financial Conduct Authority

plus

Abdalla Kablan

Advisor on DLT, AI and IOT, Parliamentary Secretariat for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation, Malta

plus

Jon Zieger

General Counsel, Stripe

plus

Tony Sio

Head of Exchange & Regulator Surveillance, Market Technology, Nasdaq

plus

Olli Rehn

Member of the Board of the Bank of Finland and Chair of the FIN-FSA, and former Vice-President and Member of the European Commission

plus

Jean-Paul Servais

Chair of the Belgium Financial Services and Markets Authority and the Chairman of the Financial Innovation Standing Committee of ESMA

plus

Silvio Schembri

Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation, Government of Malta

plus

Andrea Enria

Chair, European Banking Authority

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Steven Maijoor

Chair, European Supervisory and Markets Authority

plus

Richard Nash

Head of Global Government Relations, PayPal

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Rupert Schaefer

Head of Strategic Services, Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority

plus

Yao Loong Ng

Head of Markets Policy and Infrastructure, Monetary Authority of Singapore

plus

Clara Chiu

Director, Licensing, Intermediaries Division, Securities and Futures Commission, Hong Kong

plus

Fabian Vandenreydt

Executive Director, B-Hive

plus

Carmine Di Noia

Commissioner, CONSOB

plus

Aija Zitcere

Deputy Director, Financial Markets Policy Department, Ministry of Finance, Latvia

plus

Peteris Zilgalvis

Head of Unit, Start-ups and innovation, Digital Single Market, DG CONNECT, European Commission and Co-Chair of the FinTech Task Force of the European Commission

plus

Patrick Armstrong

Senior Risk Analysis Officer, Innovation and Products Team, European Supervisory and Markets Authority

plus

Ashley Fox

Member of the European Parliament

plus

Paul Atkins

Chief Executive, Patomak Global Partners LLC and former SEC Commissioner - Co-Chair, Token Alliance

plus

Simon Maisey

Managing Director, Global Head of Business Development, Tradeweb

plus

Jonathan Haynes

Senior Consultant, Oxera Consulting LLP

plus

Werner Bijkerk

Partner, Simplexxis and former Head of Research Department, IOSCO

plus

Pierre Bienvenu

Fintech Expert and Head of International Relations, l'Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et de résolution

plus

Michael Townsend

Vice President, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, Charles Schwab Corporation

plus

Che Sidanius

Global Head of Financial Crime & Industry Affairs, Thomson Reuters

plus

Hartwig Gerhartinger

Vice President, Legal and Regulatory, Deputy General Counsel, Paysafe Group

plus

Chloe MacEwen

Vice Chair of the Board, European Payments Institutions Federation and Vice President Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Western Union

plus

Luukas Ilves

Deputy Director and Senior Fellow, The Lisbon Council

plus

Nickolas Reinhardt

Director, Afore Consulting

venue

Stanhope Hotel

Rue du Commerce 9, 1000 Bruxelles

REGISTRATION

Registration for this event is now closed.

SPONSORS

Moody's
Vocalink Mastercard Fintech Conference Brussels
Government of Malta - Fintech Conference Brussels
B-Hive Fintech Conference Brussels
Logo Charles Schwab InfoTech
PayPal
Strips
Nasdaq
Thomson Reuters
Patomak Global Partners
Paysafe
European Payment Institutions Federation
Oxera - Fintech Conference Brussels
Metlife Fintech Conference Brussels
Deutsche Bank FinTech Conference Brussels

Fintech EU

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www.aforeconsulting.eu